How do you manage your writing/reading schedule with all the other activities around the holidays?

This year it’s more managing my reading/writing and dealing with my day job’s demands. I’m pretty organized and fairly disciplined in it. I read on the bus to and from work and these days my commute is about an hour in the morning and almost 2 hours in the evening given the time I get off work and the “new and improved” Doyle Drive. (The old one worked better for getting me home at a reasonable hour.) So with almost 3 hours a day to read I usually read a book every other day. In the evening I try to write between 500-1000 words and then on the weekends push to 3000 or more words a day. We don’t do a whole lot during the holidays themselves. One evening we go to dinner and then to what is called The Devonshire house here in Marin – this family has not only decorated their entire house inside and out every year for over two dozen years, they allow people to pass through to see these marvelous holiday scenes which include an Angel room, a Santa room and a train room. Other than that, we celebrate Yule at my house with a quiet ceremony and then I spend Christmas eve and Christmas day with friends of mine.

How about traveling during the holidays: do you go visiting or have you in the past? What has that been like? Have there been any absent family members during the holidays? How has it effected your writing; have you used any of that in your stories?

When my parents were alive I used to visit them on the holidays – or should I say hollerdays. I guess that tells you what it was like. My writing life is pretty separate from my family life if that makes sense. I’ve never been much for traveling so it’s fine with me just to be with some close friends and enjoy their company.

And this week you can find me visiting with the wonderful Kelley Heckhart at <http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/>

Welcome, Christine!

Hi Regina! Thanks for hosting me this week on your lovely blog. Some good questions this week:

How do you manage your writing/reading schedule with all the other activities around the holidays?

There really is no magic. The things you value in life you make time to accomplish, even if done in fits and spurts. I remember when I was working as an after school curriculum specialist and driver for a church-run program. Even when I was in line waiting in the church van for the kids to get out of school, I would bring out my composition journal and pen a few lines on my work in progress.

Perhaps Stephen King said it best: "Amateurs wait for their muse, the rest of us get up and go to work."

The holidays should be fun. If you so over schedule your time, I believe you really ought to reexamine. Where is the joy? Nevertheless, holidays or not, one does what one values. Where you are/what you do, there lies your heart. To be an author you have to have the heart for it or it will show in your work. If you can't find time to write, perhaps you don't have the heart.

No job is all perfume and roses. We all have to soldier on through the rough or undesirable patches. As in any job - one just does it. No excuses, move forward. Professional or amateur? Professionals show up.

Reading is like dessert: it is my reward and relaxation before sleep. I might not burn through a book, but as in the old adage 'How do you eat and elephant? Answer: one bite at a time.' —the book eventually gets read and then I write a review on Amazon and Goodreads because as an author, I know how precious and pivotal are those reader reviews. On the rare occasion I do not like a book, I do not review it. Most readers don't realize that a three star or less review can be harmful to an author's career— especially a new or lesser known author, so I just don't do it. Sometimes what's best said is not said at all.

Thankfully almost all works that make it far enough to be published have lots of redeeming qualities, even if they are not 100% my cuppa tea. Thank heavens we do not all have the same tastes. Most books will appeal to a group of readers and deserve to find them. I can nearly always find the good in a book and pass it on to others who might be considering it as their next read.

How about traveling during the holidays: do you go visiting or have you in the past? What has that been like? Have there been any absent family members during the holidays ? How has it effected your writing; have you used any of that in your stories?

The holidays are almost always at home. When my parents were alive, I went to their home. Now I host family and friends in theirs, now mine. Not everyone has a place people enjoy gathering. They may not have the space or the capability. I am so grateful to have a home full of so many memories, so I love to open it to others.

To me, it is a season for seeing people you don't get to see often enough— and reconnect. There is much joy in that.

Absent members are keenly missed. Tears fall more easily at this time of year. Some live too far away to take the necessary time off from work or the money travel requires. Whatever the reason, those people are always in my heart.

Yes, all my life experiences colour my stories. This year I have taken the plunge into short stories, my first Nottinghill Scrooge speaks to absence at the holidays and how profoundly it can bruise the heart.

Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill's historic Coronet Cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs along with her job?

I hope it touches many reader's hearts.

This will be my second Christmas without my father, my mother, my only brother. I lost them all within eighteen months of each other. Is it tough? Sure it is, but all that they were will always be with me. I have and have had so many people in my life for whom I am grateful. As some pass on, others arrive. Life is a journey. So many people to love. Every moment, every person, precious.

Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill's historic cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs and she loses so much more than her job?

Hi Regina! Thanks for having me on your blog.Which charity is most deserving of your holiday generosity and why?The animal shelter. I am a big supporter of helping homeless dogs and cats because animals have no control over what happens to them. It’s heartbreaking to think of all the dogs and cats that are in shelters instead of a loving home. What is your favorite holiday tradition in literature?I don’t read many books that are holiday themed so this is a difficult question for me to answer, but I do like the appearance of ghosts in A Christmas Carol. I wasn’t sure if that was a tradition so I did some research and found that in some European countries part of the traditional beliefs are the return of ghosts on Christmas Eve. In Brittany it is customary to leave food out for the family ghosts while the family attends church. This may be because Christmas is a time when people think of those no longer present at the feast. To me Christmas is a time for celebration and reflection so it makes sense to also acknowledge those that have passed on.

Thanks for visiting, Kelley, and best of luck with your writing!****Kelley Heckart writes historical fantasy romances set in ancient on up to early medieval time periods. Her stories reflect her passion for history, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, conflict and romance. Kelley can be found online athttp://www.kelleyheckart.com/.Her latest release, Daughter of Night, is set in ancient Greece where two mortals are caught in the midst of the battle between the Titans and Olympian gods. Also, all three books in her Dark Goddess trilogy are now available in print, Kindle & Nook. Set in Dark Age Scotland, an Irish clan is tormented by a vengeful goddess and their only escape is to break an ancient faery curse. Buy links for all of Kelley’s books can be found here:http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html<http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html>

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blog buddy Ann Tracy Marr writes paranormal Regency
romances. She may pretend to be a Christmas bah humbugger,but if she had $150,000 floating around, she
would give the twelve gifts of Christmas as prizes for following this blog
tour. (She would keep the ten lords a'leaping for herself.)Anyone up for French hens?

Visit her at www.AnnTracyMarr.com

What is your favorite
holiday food and why?

Hands down, my favorite holiday food is Aunt Peg's fruit
salad. She only made it for Thanksgiving, Christmas and sometimes Easter. Dave
and I fought over the last spoonful one year. I got the fruit salad and he was
awarded the last three pierogis.

Aunt Peg's Fruit Salad

Fill the largest mixing bowl you own with

Sliced bananas

At least one large can chunk pineapple (I like pineapple
and put more in) save the juice for the custard

Peeled grapes (unless you are lazy like me and don't peel
much; then you halve them)

Mini marshmallows if you remember - it is good without
them

Custard (recipe below)

To make the custard, cook in a double boiler until smooth
and thick:

1 T. flour, rounded

2 T. butter

¾ cup sugar

2 egg yolks, beaten

2 egg whites, beaten well (yes, do the yolks and the
whites separately)

The juice from the canned pineapple

Cool the custard, then add regular Cool Whip to taste

Mix the custard into the fruit. Chill before serving.

You can have any
person in history over for your holiday dinner. Who do you invite and what do
you talk about?

To balance all the glitter of the Christmas decorations, Marie
Antoinette would be an interesting choice, provided she agreed to be frank. This
queen of France was more complex than our age paints her: ignored and
intimidated by her mother, married to a king whose country hated hers, a victim
of prejudice and propaganda. I'd love to gossip with her about Madame du
Pompadour, her husband's famous mistress, and other notables of the time. One
question to skip is, "Did you say 'let them eat cake'?" That was one
of the lies said about her. If Marie is as shallow as history paints her, she
would still be entertaining. FYI: My husband wants to invite John Wayne.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Welcome, Angie Dobson! Week One of the "Holly Jolly Blog Tour"

Today I am so excited! Not only do we kick-off the Awe-Struck Authors Holly Jolly Blog Tour, but my first visitor is the fabulous reviewer, Angie Dobson! (She is also a lucky rep for Lindt, the best chocolate in the whole wide world!)

Welcome, Angie!

Hi,
Thanks for stopping by Regina's blog to spend a bit of time getting to know
me! I am Angie Dobson, reviewer. I spend most of time being a mom
to a 9 month old girl, who is getting ready for her first Christmas - today we
get to meet Santa for the first time! I also work full time in the office
of a gift shop manufacturer - can we say chaos this time of year? I am
also a rep for a direct sales company called Lindt Chocolates - but enough
about my day to day life, let's talk about my favorite things for this post!

What is your favorite holiday novel - and
why? Movie?

I tend to be
traditional - Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber has to be my very first choice,
and I re read it almost every year! I love Mrs. Merkle and how she brings
magic back into the lives of a family that touches hearts. Ms. Macomber
is a talented author who will always be on my favorites list - her first novel
came out when I was only 5, and she is still writing strong, this makes her
amazing in my book! My favorite Christmas movie will always be Charlie
Brown's Christmas - something about that tree, just makes me smile!

Let us know your favorite holiday tradition
that you cherish in your home. And what holiday tradition do you find
fascinating, even though you might not do it at your house? (That might be
another culture.)

This one is easy for
me! My absolute favorite tradition is getting to open one gift on Christmas Eve
- as an adult, I realize my parents always let us open the one THEY picked, but
somehow it seemed our choice - yet it was always Pajamas to wear while we
waited on Santa! I will never know how they pulled it off so long, but I
hope to continue it with my daughter starting this year!

Something I find fascinating is British Santa Sacks! My husband grew up
in England (as did his entire family for generations!) and each year all of
their gifts were in HUGE sacks under the tree! Instead of stockings, they
left sacks for Father Christmas! They also got to go to a pantomime every
year! Both of these traditions I hope to incorporate into our holiday
this year, while we travel to England with my daughter for her first
Christmas! Now we just have to figure out how to get her past Father
Christmas this year, and Santa coming at home the following year for the next
dozen years until she figures out who really wraps her gifts!